The denominational influence behind these schools was often lukewarm toward the extension of public education, and the ministers themselves had been known to make slighting references to "godless schools." There was still another class of people who really opposed public schools because they did not believe that the masses should be educated.

This class was, however, small and is perhaps more numerous in other sections of the Union than in the South.
Last, but by no means the least, of the obstacles to general public education was the question of its influence upon the negro.

The apparent effects of negro education were not likely to make the average white man feel that the experiment had been successful.

The phrase that "an educated negro was a good plough-hand spoiled" seemed to meet with general acceptance.

The smattering of an education which the negroes had received--it would be difficult to call it more--seemed to have improved neither their efficiency nor their morals.